Tulips

How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Tulips

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Long live the tulip! This brightly colored jewel of spring is a perennial flower that grows best in areas with cold winters and dry summers.

There’s a tulip for every setting, from small “species” tulips in naturalized woodland areas to larger tulips that fit formal garden plantings from beds to borders.

The upright flowers may be single or double, and vary in shape from simple cups, bowls, and goblets to more complex forms. Height ranges from 6 inches to 2 feet.

By planting varieties with different bloom times, you can have tulips blooming from early to late spring. Some types are good for forcing into bloom indoors. Most are excellent for cut flowers, too.

Although tulips are a perennial, many gardeners treat them as annuals, planting new bulbs every autumn. The North American climate and soil can’t replicate the ancient Anatolian and southern Russian conditions of their birth. Gardeners in our western mountain regions come closest to this climate.

Planting

Plant tulip bulbs in the fall, 6 to 8 weeks before a hard frost is expected and when soils are below 60 degrees F. (See our frost dates.) This is usually during September and October in the north, and October and November in the south. To find the best dates, see our fall bulb planting chart.

Nature never intended for bulbs to loll about above ground, so don’t delay planting the bulbs after purchase.

In southern climates with mild winters, you need to buy pre-chilled bulbs or chill them yourself in the refrigerator for about 12 weeks before planting.

When selecting a site: Tulips prefer a site with full or afternoon sun. In Zones 7 and 8, choose a shady site or one with morning sun only. Soil must be well-draining, neutral to slightly acidic, fertile, and dry or sandy. All tulips dislike areas with excessive moisture. Tall varieties should be sheltered from strong winds.

Prepare the garden bed by using a garden fork or tiller to loosen the soil to a depth of 12 to 15 inches, then mix in a 2- to 4-inch layer of compost.

Plant bulbs deep—at least 8 inches, measuring from the base of the bulb. And that means digging even deeper, to loosen the soil and allow for drainage, or creating raised beds. Remember, the bigger the bulb, the deeper the hole it needs.

Set the bulb in the hole with the pointy end up. Cover with soil and press soil firmly.

Water bulbs right after planting. Although they can’t bear wet feet, bulbs need water to trigger growth.

To deter mice and moles—if they have been a problem—put holly or any other thorny leaves in the planting holes. Some gardeners use kitty litter or crushed gravel. If ravenous voles and rodents are a real problem, you may need to take stronger measures, such as planting bulbs in a buried wire cages.

If you’re planning to raise perennial tulips, feed them when you plant them in the fall. Bulbs are their own complete storage system and contain all of the nutrients they need for one year. Use organic material, compost, or a balanced time-release bulb food.

Don’t lose hope if you’re planting your tulips late in the season—just use these tips.

Care

Water tulips during dry spells in the fall; otherwise, do not water.

Rainy summers, irrigation systems, and wet soil are death to tulips. Never deliberately water a bulb bed. Wet soil leads to fungus and disease and can rot bulbs. Add shredded pine bark, sand, or anything to foster swift drainage.

Compost annually to provide nutrients needed for future blooms.

Deadhead tulips after flowering.

Allow the foliage to yellow for about 6 weeks after flowering before removing it.

Large varieties may need replanting every few years; small types usually multiply and spread on their own.

Pests/Diseases

Recommended Varieties

Tulip flowers may be single, double, ruffled, fringed, or lily-shaped, depending on the variety.

Wild, or Species, tulips are small in size, ranging in height from 3 to 8 inches. They are tougher than hybrids. They also bloom in the South and look best when planted as a carpet of color. One of our favorites is ‘Lilac Wonder’.

Triumph hybrids are the classic single, cup-shape tulip that make up the largest grouping of tulip types. Top varieties:

‘Cracker tulip’ is a midspring bloomer with purple, pink, and lilac petals.

‘Ile de France’ is a midseason bloomer, with its intensely red blooms on stems to 20 inches tall.

‘Calgary’ is a midspring bloomer with snowy-white petals and blue-green foliage.

There are so many beautiful varieties of tulips. Explore catalogs and experiment in your garden!

Wit & Wisdom

Did you know: If you dig up a tulip bulb in midsummer, it’s not the same bulb you planted last fall. It’s her daughter. Even while the tulip is blossoming, the bulb is dividing for the next generation.

To get the longest vase life, cut tulip stems diagonally, then wrap the upper two-thirds of the flowers in a funnel of newspaper and stand them in cool water for an hour or two. Then, recut the stems and the tulips will last at least a week.

In 17th-century Holland, the new tulip was such the rage and fashion that a handful of bulbs was worth about $44,000.

Reader Comments

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Missing tulips

I have been reading about everyone's tulips and am so jealous! I have loved tulips since I was young and helped my mom plant many, many bulbs. The first fall I had my own home, I was so excited to plant tulips. With several acres of land, I had visions of fields of tulips! So off I went and planted about 1000 bulbs. Sure enough, when spring came, I had many blooms--for about a day! The nex day all the blooms were gone and I learned that deer also loved tulips! Since I also loved the deer and we had dozens visit daily, my dreams of a yard full of tulips was over quickly. I tried other bulbs over the years but the rabbits, squirrels, moles, and voles got most of those.

H

Need to dig up bulbs and move them

Because of changes to my garden, I need to dig up my bulbs and move them in the next few days. I live in Colorado Springs. Should I keep them in a cool dry place until the fall and then replant or do it now? Thank you

Tulip Bulbs

I live in Wisconsin and I was wondering if I need to dig up my tulip bulbs after the leaves have wilted and turned yellow? If I want to dig them up and replant them in the fall how should I store them?

I'm hooked

I got some Canadian tulips last year and planted them for our 150th Anniversary and they all bloomed! I'm totally hooked on tulips now and will plant more this year. I researched how to plant them and take care of them here online, followed your directions and am very pleased with the results. Thanks for sharing your wisdom.

Deer prevention

In the early spring when the tulips are just a few inches out of the ground I sprinkle them with a mixture of 3 eggs (thinned out in a little water) mixed into a watering can of water. This lasts a month in Avon Lake Ohio. No deer damage and glorious tulips.

cost

tulips bulbs

I just got some tulip bulbs given to me by someone out west. I live in SC. I understand they are to be refrigerated until time to plant in November. My question is what do I put them in to keep the other foods from getting affected from the gasses they put off. Do they need air? What is the best way to wrap or store them in the fridge?

Tulip Storage

The best way to store tulip bulbs in the refrigerator is to place them in a brown paper bag. The bulbs don’t give off any gasses that I know of, but fruit in the fridge give off ethylene gas as they ripen. The ethylene will spoil the bulbs, so try to keep fruit out of the fridge while the bulbs are in there.

Tulips

My tulips are all starting to bloom, my question is I want to move them to a different part of my yard. How long do I have to wait to move them? Do I I store all the bulbs till fall? And where should I keep them until then?

Replant and see what happens?

I have a row of hostas that are intermingled with tulips that haven't bloomed since I purchased my home nearly five years ago. While digging up the hostas to divide I also brought up the tulips bulbs which where all tiny bulbs and leaves. I have over 50 of these now with leaves still green and intact. Its not even May yet, so should I replant them somewhere there is space for them to spread out and grow while letting the foilage die back, or should I dry them out now and plant in the fall? I am in zone 5a.

Replanting Tulips

It is still early in the spring season, and since the bulbs are already dug up, we recommend replanting the tulips where there is space. However, since you have so many bulbs, try planting half while drying and saving the rest! You’ll increase your chances of success by doing both.

TULIP BULBS AFTER BLOOM

At my work, they just tilled up the ground where the tulips were planted. They already bloomed this year. I live in Missouri. My co-worker and I picked up a whole bunch. If I just keep them in the refrigerator until Fall, can I plant them? Or should I plant them now? Any advice on how to store if I should wait? Thanks so much for any tips or advice!

Tulips

I got some free tulips from a local company, that plants them, & after the blooming has finished, they remove them. Then they give them to the public. It's 5/10, and I have gotten my bulbs. I now need to know what, I should do with them.

tulips after blooming

With tulips, you should not dig up the bulb right away. It’s important to let the leaves die back and only cut them when they are dried up and yellowed. The leaves store the carbohydrates for energy to grow the following year. Without leaves to do this work, there is no way the bulb can come back well and bloom the following year.

tulips bought in a pot

hi there, i live here in mount isa queensland aus. i recently bought a tulip plant and now in flower.(it is already flowering when i bought it.) i want to divide them to give some to friends, will i hurt the plant by doing this? also, it is fall right now where we have about 30-38C from midday to afternoon and about 24C at night time. this is my first tulip plant and don't wanna ruin it. thank you very much for any inputs. regards from the outback.

Can i plant tulips for spring/2018 blooms, in spring/2017?

We are just planting our garden, and want to get our tulips settled in with the other perennials. This way we know we have the room. Is this ok? I would not expect them to bloom until spring of 2018. We live in zone 8, and they will be planted in part shade, as per the instructions.

when to plant tulip bulbs

Planting Tulip bulbs too early, before the ground has really cooled down, can cause the bulbs to begin top growth rather than root growth, resulting in immature root development and diminished vitality.

Tulip bulbs should be planted once the soil has cooled down to around 55 degrees F (after about two weeks of sweater weather when the night time temperatures have consistently hovered in the 40s). Tulip bulbs do everything in response to soil temperature in the fall and winter, and to soil and ambient air temperature and sunlight in the spring.

Tulips

I live in northern New Mexico. This spring, the tulips everywhere are blooming much more profusely than usual. What makes them do that, and can we gardeners help it along
Also, I've noticed that while the tulips in our garden come back every year, they are progressively coming out yellow, where they used to be red, pink or white, What accounts for that?

Tulip blooms

There are many factors that help tulips thrive: good-draining soil, the right pH (between 6 and 7), strong mid-day sun, the right planting depth, extra watering if it’s dry weather, and a good spring chill.

The first season of tulips doesn’t need fertilizing but if you’re going to have multiple seasons of healthy bloom, you should fertilize with a slow-release complete fertilizer in the fall (mix into rooting area).

Sometimes after a few years, the offsets from one tulip parent will naturally change color.

Tulips in water

I was recently given a vase with 5 tulip bulbs that had there roots in water -- no soil. The tulips are now in bloom and beautiful. I noticed small bulbs and growth sprouting from the bottom of the bulbs. Are these the "daughters"? When do you recommend that I plant these in soil? Do I plant the "mothers" and the "daughters"? Also, I currently live in So. California but will be moving to northern Virginia in a few months. I really want to take these with me as they are from a treasured friend. Any suggestions on how to preserve them and take them with me? I, obviously, have never had tulips before. Thank you for advice!

tulips in water

While it’s charming to think of the bulbs as mothers and the bulbils as daughters, these little darlings draw energy from the bulbs. With the energy going to the bulbils, the tulip is not likely to bloom again. And the bulbils, under the best circumstances would take three years to produce. You can try removing the bulbs from the water, with foliage intact (pull off the bulbils) and setting them aside to dry. When the foliage fades, cut it off and set the bulbs in a cool, dry place. Plant the tulips bulbs in Virginia in the fall. They may or may not bloom because they were forced for sale at retail and they were forced in water, which is not the “normal” medium. You could, and should, purchase fresh bulbs for planting in Virginia in the fall. They will keep the memory alive, if these bulbs do not come back.

Tulips - now what

I planted bulbs we purchased at Costco. The blooms were absolutely gorgeous and it seemed every bulb gave us a flower. We live in San Francisco and prior to planting the bulbs we kept them in the refrigerator. This seem to work really well for these bulbs. So here's my question. Flowers are now gone. I'll wait for the leaves to get to a yellow color. I'm tempted to pull the bulbs out of the ground and store them back in the refrigerator till the next planting season. Your thoughts please.
Bob

Tulips in Winter

That’s an interesting idea! It is common to keep bulbs in the refrigerator in mild winter climates for the first year’s bloom, but usually they are treated as an annual and discarded after that. Tulip bulbs should not be kept in the refrigerator longer than about 2 months, beginning in mid-to-late November and ending in early-to-mid January. To help the bulbs last, keep them away from any fruit. As fruit ripens, it produces a chemical called ethylene which is harmful to the bulbs. We would not recommend storing them in the refrigerator for half a year.

Worst thing that could happen is they don’t flower next year, so try your experiment and let us know what happens!

tulip lovers

Please let tulip planters know that squirrels and rabbits love tulips too! Those little stinkers bite the flower buds off so I surround mine with chicken wire fencing or cover them with plastic netting that comes in the big rolls at a home improvement store. My tulips are quite tall when flowering so I prop up the net covering the flowers with stakes higher than the tulips. It is so disappointing to see the buds or beautiful flowers one day and none the next.

tulip munchers

Thanks for sharing your tulip tips with us, Vickie! Yes, we list squirrels under the tulip pests section above, and also give a few tips on the squirrel pest page (http://www.almanac.com/pest/squirrels) as to how to protect bulbs, at least the part in the ground, from the hungry critters. Good point about the rabbits–we have added them to the list, and provided a link to the rabbit pest page. It is indeed heartbreaking to see the beautiful spring tulips disappear!

I have loved tulips for the longest time

I have loved tulips for the longest time. I plant some new ones every year, being careful to select some early bloomers, some mid season, and some late bloomers. The early bloomers will poke their heads out even when there is snow still on the ground, are usually pretty small and don't last much more than a week to 10 days at best. The mid terms one come to fruition just as the early bloomers are dying off, and likewise the late one. The late ones are always the show to attend. They are usually tallest, most colourful and definitely biggest, and last about three weeks. I simply leave them in the ground, although I know most people dig them up and dry them out... You can usually collect "used" tulips for free from places that are digging them up... as most simply toss them out planting new ones in the fall.. I usually buy 4 or 5 packages with 8 or 10 bulbs every year. and enjoy them immensely. BUT, I am absolutely not a gardener....just a tulip lover... Listen to the advice others provide and you won't go wrong. From Ottawa Canada. This is the first year either the damn rabbits or squirrels ate so many of my tulips off. They really made an enemy of me...Next year there will be none of that... Might have to "plant" a few squirrels and rabbits when I am finished. Littlebuggers!

Bought potted tulip

I bought tulips in pots that had already sprouted, thinking I could plant them in the ground the very next weekend. As of now, inside the house, they have grown a few more inches and buds are already forming. I am in zone 6, and I think we still have at least a couple more light frosts in the next few weeks. Can I plant them outdoors before they bloom, and while we still have a couple light frosts, or do I just have to wait until after they bloom?

planting tulips from a pot

Tulips that have been forced to bloom at a certain time may be difficult to get to rebloom but you can give it a try. Put the container outdoors after the blooms have faded and keep the soil moist. When the leaves turn yellow you can plant the tulips in the ground. Areas with cool winters will encourage them to bloom again next spring.

Tulips With Bulbs

I received some tulips in a vase, with bulbs. All the directions said were to make sure that water stayed at the base of the bulbs. They have bloomed and are now...what appears to be dead (wilted) What should I do now. I live in Georgia and the weather as been up and down.

Tulip on Valentines Day, Now what?

I received flowering tulip stems for Valentine's day. My question is what do I do when the flowers are gone? I live in Minnesota and currently planting outside is not an option. The petals are gone and the leaves are turning yellow. Now what do I do?

Valentine tulips...

First, read the packaging, Patti. These may be some bulbs that we do not know of and do not need winter’s chill. (You might even ask the giver when he/she got them and inquire there about planting.) If they are not “special” (per above), we would hustle to get them into the ground asap, as it is still winter and they remaining cold days may be enough to bring them to life in the spring.

tulips for Valentine's Day

Put the container outdoors after the blooms have faded and keep the soil moist. When the leaves turn yellow you can plant the tulips in the ground. If you have cool winters (tulip bulbs need a chilling period) they may bloom again next spring.

My mom bought some potted

My mom bought some potted tulips for Valentines Day to give to a good friend and she accidentally left them in her truck, which happens to black, and we live in Texas where it is up to 85 degrees right now. She got them out of the truck after several hours and the tulips were wilted. Is there anything she can do to get them back to normal before Valentines Day?

late bulbs

I recently received some tulip bulbs from the grocery store. I am wanting to make sure I plant them correctly due to the fact that its the wrong season to have to plant them. if I plant them in pots will they still bloom this spring? and also if I plant them now in the ground will they still live to bloom this year as well. any tips that may help me? Also....would it help to add special top soil to help give extra nutrients?

Tulip Trauma

Hi, Amy: Thanks for these great questions. It’s hard to tell what’s going on with your bulbs. Please see the answer below and click on that link; once there, search (small magnifying glass at top of page) on “Forcing Bulbs” to get more information on this whole situation. The thing is, tulips must be exposed to 14 to 20 weeks of cold in order to sense that it’s “all clear” to bloom again. Whether your grocery store bulbs are ready to go is not known, but we would think so. We would plant these in pots and keep them in a cool place until the weather’s warmer (if you’re in the north); if you’re in a warmer climate, putting them in pots will still enable you to keep them in a cooler spot for a while. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. And no extra topsoil or the like needed. Just familiarize yourself with the general tulip information at the top of this page. Thanks again, and good luck1

Tulip bulbs

I bought some tulip bulbs in December at Ace Hardware thinking I could plant them in a pot, have them bloom in the house this spring and then plant them in the ground. After reading up on some information I am not so sure this will work now. Should I still go thru with my plan or store them in our garage until spring? Please help.

too late tulips

The tulip bulbs you bought in December were (are) meant to be planted for spring bloom following the needed exposure to cold. If they do not experience a cold spell, they will not bloom this spring (or maybe ever). You may have some luck planting these bulbs in a pot, if you also give them exposure to the cold. For more advice on this, Noelle, see here about forcing a variety of bulbs: http://www.almanac.com/blog/gardening/garden-journal/forcing-bulbs-indoo...

We hope this helps!

Tulips

For Christmas, I received 5 beautiful red tulips in a vase still with the bulbs attached. But now do not know how/when to remove the tulips/stems from the bulbs and plant the bulbs. Outdoors (its nearly January by now)? Indoors in a large pot? Suggestions? Thanks for any help. I'd really love to save these to bloom again in the spring!

HI, I purchased bulbs of

HI, I purchased bulbs of gladilous, daffodils, freesia, and tulips for the first rime i am gonna plany them. i have no experience of planting these. Although I plant rananculus every year in fall. i live in pakistan anf here weather use to be dry cold in fall wainters. the city named kohat its my home town. My query is that do i need to watwr them on daily bases? Or wait when the soil is dry after that i would water them again? i have voth suny area and shaded as well. and Normaly it rain rare in fall. I am only concious about water supply

Hello Usman,

Being conscious about your water supply is a wonderful thing. Luckily, you do not need to water them often at all. Just give them a moderate watering at the time of planting. (Be careful not to overwater, as that can cause bulb rot.) For both spring and summer flowering bulbs that were planted in the fall, start watering when the flower buds first appear (if the soil is dry). Best of luck!

Hello Usman,

Being conscious about your water supply is a wonderful thing. Luckily, you do not need to water them often at all. Just give them a moderate watering at the time of planting. (Be careful not to overwater, as that can cause bulb rot.) For both spring and summer flowering bulbs that were planted in the fall, start watering when the flower buds first appear (if the soil is dry). Best of luck!

Do deer love to eat tulips?

I live on a golf course and the cart path is my "neighbor" so to speak. I am trying to establish my yard since we just built the house and moved in within this year. I am a novice at yards, planting the right flowers, bushes etc. I have read through many of the comments and think they are very good. But I don't want to get kicked out of my neighborhood because of the smell, or a forbidden fence. I just ordered and received a shipment this week of tulip bulbs that I plan on planting tomorrow...yikes. I did buy hardware cloth to keep the squirrels out but I would hate to have the deer dine on the flowers in the spring. Any suggestions?

Tulips

I had beautifully tulips this year from bulbs I planted last fall. There was already some from previous years my zoom planted, Some of the leaves dried up which I Know they are suppose to do in time, It is now Sept ,and I still have very green leaves and they are not dried up yet. What should I do if they don't dry up.

Tulip Foliage

Sometimes bulb foliage takes a while to turn yellow and die back. It will happen eventually. The plant is still photosynthesizing, which is a good thing. Sometimes the best thing to do is nothing. Once the leaves have turned completely yellow, cut them back.

Planting Tulip Bulbs

What a nice gift! It would be best to store the bulbs in a dry place away from direct sunlight, and wait to plant them until September or October, before the ground freezes. You can check frost dates for Toronto to know when the ground might freeze.

Tulips have formed bulbs above ground

Hello, I planted about 12 tulips last fall and they flowered beautifully. I have removed the yellow leaves and stems as recommended but there are 2 of the stalks that have a large mass or bulb where the flower grew from. Has anyone else had this happen. I don't know what to do with this...

tulips pods

So far so good, Annie. The seed pods that develop on the tulip stalks are common and undesirable; they could hinder the plant’s growth in future years. Cut them off—and next time so not wait so long. (It’s ok to remove that at the first sign of them.) Discard or compost the pod.

Tulips - Deer

I live in Chesterfield Virginia. My wife's favorite flowers are Tulips. Can not grow them in the yard because of the Deer. As soon as they start to bud, the deer are feasting. This year I tried growing them in pots on my deck which is safe from all the deer. This worked out real well but now, how do I handle the bulbs for next year? I have cleaned up all the bulbs - remove the dirt by hand. What next? I understand that there must be a refrigeration time period but when and how long......Any suggestions?

To repel deer

Sprinkle cut human hair on your foilage to repel deer. This seems to work pretty well (we live in the country). I forgot to do it this year and the little buggers clipped my azaleas right before they blooms. GRRR I have used this method on hostas too and it worked, so I'm sure it would work on tulips or whatever else.

keeping deer away

We live with many deer and have hostas and tulips which often go to the deer eating them. This year we surrounded the items with green stiff chicken wire and covered with light black plastic netting. They never touched a single plant!!

We have a tulip garden in

We have a tulip garden in Kashmir, where the flowers do not last for more than two weeks. Is it possible to grow tulip flowers in Ladakh, where the ambient atmosphere is dry with very scant rainfall and the winter temperature dip almost -25 to -30 degrees Celcius?

Planting Tulips in Ladakh

Hello Jigmet,
tulips can survive such cold winters - I live in Northern Ontario, Canada, and it is often -30 to -40 C in the winter. They like dry summers too...you may need to water them, especially in the spring, but they should survive the cold! Good luck!

Tulip bulb storage

I was given a tulip planter with a number of blooms in the spring but it was too cold to plant it outdoors. I still have the bulbs. How would I preserve the bulbs through the summer so that I can plant them in the fall?

My husband and I were making

My husband and I were making a new flower bed where some tulips already resided and bloomed yearly. When he dug up the grass surrounding them we pulled out over 30 bulbs where we only thought there was maybe 5 tulips. They are currently sitting in an empty pot outside since I am unsure what exactly to do with them. I don't want them to die, and they are all hard bulbs and not mushy at all. We live in Kansas, so we definitely have cold winters for them to chill. I am thinking the crab grass that they were in was possibly stopping them from growing. Should I replant them now, or store them until fall like in the basement or something?

Storing Tulip Bulbs

It would be best to store them for now and replant them in the fall. Wash off any excess soil from the bulbs, make sure that they are dry, and store them in a cool, dry place (your basement might be the perfect environment).

tulips from Holland

In late April I purchased tulip bulbs in the Amsterdam airport..
I live in zone 6A....
Do i tore the bulbs until fall in a cool dark place?
Do the bulbs need to refrigerated prior to planting? If so how long?
What is the recommended depth of the hole for planting the bulbs?
What type of food do you recommend? a time release product?
Should I put gravel in the hole before the bulb?
Do the bulbs need to be removed from the soil after the stems turn yellow? If so....do i store them in a cool dark place?

Planting in early summer?

I just received bulbs, Late May, from a grower that dug them out after they had bloomed this spring. Can I plant the bulbs directly into the ground now. Temperatures are going to nearly 100 degrees within the week. If I do not plant them now, what do I do with them so they do not dry out before fall? Temperatures will not drop again to fall weather until September.

Tulips

I live in Mt Eliza Victoria Australia. It is the last day of Autumn and our Tulips in one area are up and appro 100mm out of the ground.
I think this is a bit early however can you please let me know what my next steps need be - eg possible diseases or pests etc

Tulips from Holland

Going home through the airport in Amsterdam I bought two boxes of tulip bulbs, one regular and one Parrot Tulips for my wife and I to plant in our new garden near Budapest. The bulbs are still in the boxes and I can wait until the Fall as I've read in your thread here, but should they be kept in the refrigerator or just dry and cool, or what should I do?

Tulips

Hi, we just purchased a home

Hi, we just purchased a home that had an over grown everything. .. including mounds of tulips hanging over the sidewalk. I want to move them to a bigger area. It's still spring so I'm not sure what I should do with all of these bulbs until fall. .. thx

Little too late

I purchased my tulip bulbs a little too late and did not have a chance to plant them before the frost. I would like to plant them now but noticed that some of them are a little rotted but sprouted leaves. Can I plant the bulbs now? And can I plant the rotted ones as well? Thank you. I am a beginner from Michigan.

Time to plant Tulip Bulbs

Hi,
I am not good with gardening but my wife wants my lawn looks beautiful like my neighbors' next year. When is the best time/season (summer or fall) to plant Tulip Bulbs? If I will be successful, my wife will give me an ok to buy my new Camera. That's our deal. Please help me. Thanks.

tulip question worth a camera!! Good Deal!! (for you)

Ok so let start by me telling you I am not a gardener, but I do love tulips. (By the way, start looking for the camera of your dreams because this is a no brainer!!)

Buy your tulip bulbs when the local stores start selling them for the best choice, and when they are running out of stock, for the best deals.

Look on the bag and fool proof instructions are always there, in graphic form.

They will tell you when to plant ( fall is always best, maybe a month or three weeks max before the snow flies... (Last Dec. found a bag of bulbs in the closet I forgot to plant, and put them in on Dec. 19... and sure enough, they had started to sprout but in they went anyway. This spring they ALL grew beautifully.) and how deep,.... anything 6 inches or below should do, and how far apart, usually about 4 to 6 inches.. pointy end up. I would advise that you dig the earth a couple of inches lower than the bulb, and fill it back in so the soil is loose and can drain well.. A few small stones in the bottom of your hole is a good little bit of insurance for good drainage. I prefer to dig a trench about 10 inches or so wide and space my bulbs in two rows one across the front and one across the back of the trench alternately (Zig Zag pattern) as that seems to work well for me, instead of individual holes, but you make your own call. I have one of those metal tulip bulb hole tools and they are really handy and fast, so if this is going to be an on-going thing, and you want to plant them individually, I would recommend the investment of a few dollars on one, or, like me, just use a shovel and dig a trench. Now as for the end result. You can buy early season, mid season and late season blooming bulbs, so look on the package for the expected date. Here in Ottawa Ontario, Canada, I have tulips blooming from as soon as the snow allows, usually early to mid march (and new snow will not hurt them, don't rush out to cover them, it's ok!) until the end of May. Usually the early ones are short, maybe 5 inches max tall and the late ones might be 15 inches tall. The mid to late bloomers are the most beautiful and colorful.

And here is the clincher, they will bloom a second and third year... with no effort on your part... Those early bloomers are at least 10 years in the ground.

Now for the choice of colours and display. I prefer "bunches" maybe 15 or 20, in a close knit patch, maybe 2 to three or four feet long max. then space that patch a few feet from the next patch, and dig in another 15 or 20, this time of a different colour and maybe a different breed. (the single tulips are what everyone looks for but if you buy a patch of "Doubles" they have a whole lot more petals on them and almost resemble a carnation... There are also "Parrot" ones that have very pretty ruffled edges... look at the picture and see what you want...mix and match your colour of flowers and you will be able to buy the most expensive camera your wife can afford!!!

Vase bloomers

We probably would not plant these. The bulb would need a nice rest, including a chill period (think of the normal cycle: plant in fall, it enjoys a chill in winter, then begins to grow in spring. In all likelihood, there is not time in the calendar for it to go through it’s cycle. You could try…if the bulb is not all mushy from the water…but keep your expectations in check. Displays such as yours in water are usually meant for a single performance. In the fall, buy a bag of bulbs to plant and you will have a flower show in spring 2017.

shock from a tulip

Hi, I was sitting on the lawn with out 11 month old grandson and showing him our bright red tulips. I touched the petal of one and thought I received a slight shock, he copied me straight away and jumped back with horror on his face. Our daughter came into the garden a few minutes later and the same thing happened to her. So it wasn't my imagination. Can anyone explain this strange occurrence?!

received gift of tulips in pot

Hi...I received tulips in a pot this spring. Can I take them out since the flowers are done and plant them now?
And, I also forgot to plant tulip and crocus bulbs I bought last fall. Will they grow if I plant now and since they are dry, can I re-hydrate them somehow and be successful?

Hi Margie,

Yes, you can plant the potted tulips in the ground. They will not bloom again this year. Plant the tulip and croucus bulbs in the fall. They need the cold months to go dormant and then will bloom next spring.

Tulips lost their red stripe

We moved to a house where the previous owner had planted Halley's Comet type tulips (yellow with red stripes). They bloomed beautifully for a number of years but now, over the last two years, they seemed to have lost their red stripe and the yellow is not as vivid. Is there a way to bring back the red/yellow coloring or do I need to plant new bulbs? Is there a way to prevent this from happening again, if I plant new bulbs? Thank you!

Tulip bulbs dug up accidentally

About 4 years ago, I planted several tulip bulbs. They have not come up for the past two years. While digging in my flower garden, I accidentally dug up about 25 bulbs, which appear to not be rotted, but have not rooted either and have not sprouted. Can I just replant them now and see if they make it? I realize they won't bloom this year, but am just wondering if this would be worth the effort. I live in zone 4.

Tulips for center piece

My tulips bloomed about one week ago. They still look nice - and I'm hoping to use them next week for a center piece for my daughters first communion party. Will they last longer in the ground or should I cut them and follow the steps for putting them in a vase?

Tulips did not bloom

I planted tulip bulbs given to me by my sister who brought them from the Netherlands. I planted them in planters on my deck in the fall. This spring the tulips leaves did emerge, but no tulips. When can I remove the bulbs and replant in another location? I am guessing they weren't planted deep enough? Can I plant them now or do I need to wait until fall and dig them up then? Thank you!

why tulips did not bloom

Tulips usually grow unless a rodent got to the bulbs or the bulbs rotted in the ground. In your case, if the tulips grew with leaves and without blooms, then the usual cause is how the bulbs were sourced or stored. In the future, the only way to know this is to cut a bulb in half longitudinally to make sure the flower bud is alive, not brown or dried.

hydroponic tulips

All of the sources that we consulted suggest that bulbs that have been forced in water (grown hydroponically) do no have the strength to live again. They are best discarded. If you want in-ground tulips, purchase and plant them in the fall (this, assuming you live in an area that has winter conditions for at least a couple of months).

bulbs grown in a vase

I bought a pot of tulips that were growing in a vase. The tulips are spent and the foliage is brown but I'm not sure of what to do with the bulbs. Sacramento winters rarely get cold, and on the rare occasions that we are cold it only lasts a few days. Suggestions?

I bought tulip bulbs from

I bought tulip bulbs from schippol airport shop. I planted those in the container . I live in Jakarta Indonesia. After 2 days, the bulbs is growing fasted. Hopefully it can be growed and flowering. But I turn on all day and night my Air Conditioner at 20_22 degree celcius. How low should I keep the room temperatur for the better life of tulip bulbs? My room is at west side. That means rich of sunshine. Thank you.

Tulips

I planted about 100 tulips a few years ago. They came up beautifully, but soon after, all the flowers were eaten by deer. Since then, all that comes up are the green leaves, but no flower. Anything I can do?

Tulips tips of the leaves are turning pink

I planted some Fringe Tulips for my May Birthday and they were green and lovely in April but after a cold spell I brought them because they were in a container. One bloomed inside my house but the others were still growing. I put them back outside and the tips of the leaves have been turning all sorts of shades of pink and purple but now flower yet. Should I stay patient to see if a flower pops out soon or does it seem the up and down temperatures put too much stress on the flowers.

Put the container outdoors

Put the container outdoors after the blooms have faded and keep the soil moist. When the leaves turn yellow you can plant the tulips in the ground. If you have cool winters (tulip bulbs need a chilling period) they may bloom again next spring.

growing tulips

That’s actually an interesting question. It depends on the tulip bulb. Some tulips are perennials (the smaller species types) and come back each year while others (large types) need to be replanted every few years. Many gardeners treat their tulips as annuals, planting new bulbs each fall, especially if it’s a hybrid variety (as many are). Either way, let the tulips leaves yellow and die back naturally first.

Tulips that have been forced

Tulips that have been forced to bloom at a certain time may be difficult to get to rebloom but you can give it a try. Put the container outdoors after the blooms have faded and keep the soil moist. When the leaves turn yellow you can plant the tulips in the ground. If you have cool winters (tulip bulbs need a chilling period) they may bloom again next spring.

Tulips

Hi, this is my first year trying to grow tulips. I noticed just today that my tulips have pushed through the ground - we are expecting frost tonight - well a low of( -13C) will they survive? Do I need to cover them?
thank you.
Maribeth

I was given tulips in a pot

I was given tulips in a pot as a gift. I live in Florida and we tend to have wet springs and summers, rain storms almost every afternoon. How would I care for the bulbs after the blooms and foliage die?

Tulips in Florida

last week got two pots full of blooming tulips ~ once they have finished blooming and have died back do i leave them in the soil in the pot? remove and wrap in newspaper? store in dark cool place indoors? and refrigerate in october/november ? it is so hot during the summer here and where they would be planted they would get watered i believe too much and probably rot. florida, i know not ideal for growing tulips.
any help would be great. thank you !

Tulips

Hi. I just pot a pot of Tulips from Lowes yesterday. There are no flowers bloomed yet just green leaves. Can I plant them this week-end? Will they bloom or do I need to wait till next spring to see them bloom?
Help!! I'm not a gardener this is my first garden and plant!!

Tulips

I planted some tulips someone gave me as a gift. I covered them up with a board and a brick. Three weeks ago I took the board and brick off. I see my neighbors tulips stem have already came through the dirt. My stems have not. What can I do beside wait?

Bricked?

Hi, Sonya: Much of this depends on how deep you (and your neighbor) planted and what was going on underneath your board. The first thing to do is examine your bulbs and make sure they haven’t been eaten by something or rotted. You may find, too, that the stems were forced to grow sideways, in which case you could try gently turning the bulbs. If all seems well, you could try removing a little soil from the top. Beyond that: patience. Your soil does not necessarily have the same characteristics/temp as your neighbor’s. Thanks for asking!

Tulips as gift in vase of water

Hi,
I received tulips as a gift in a vase of water. Will they blossom if I replant it for next year? I live in Minnsota. I do not have a green thumb, so lots of help & advice would be great.
Thank you.

Daffodils, tulips

I bought my daffodils and tulips from lowes and when i took them out the bucket, there was a root system all around the plant. I loosened it up and stuck it and the ground. And 2 weeks later they're dying. Will they come back. What do I need to do?

Done

Hi, Starshima: It sounds like your tulips have just run their course, as they are not a very long-lived bloom. Let them die back fully before removing the aboveground parts, then stayed tuned for even more next year. Thanks for asking!

If your tulips are blooming

If your tulips are blooming we suggest that you leave them in the pots until the flowers fade and the foliage starts to turn yellow. You can then plant the bulbs in the garden and hopefully they will bloom again next spring in your garden.

I received about 15 Dutch

I received about 15 Dutch bulbs last year and planted it last fall. We just left them indoors and not in direct sun light. About a month ago they started to come out. Largest is about 12cm now. To be honest I don't know much about gardening but I do like plants and flowers and growing things out of seeds. Lets see how these tulips work out. Thanks for the tips, didn't know about the newspaper funnel and cold water trick.

Tulips.

Hello.
Last fall I planted alot of tulips I had purchased at Tulip Festival in Holland Michigan.
My hubby made approx an 8x8 raised bed specifically for me to plant these in. It has two tiers-bottom tier is about 6-8 inches high, add about 6more inches for the top one. Daffodils I planted are just starting to come up, but not one tulip. Tomorrow is St. Patricks day and I am concerned. Other tulips elsewhere in our yard
are up and getting taller seemingly on a daily basis. Drainage is good, but moles are running rampant this year-tunnels are around base of bed, but i cannot see where they might have dug themselves under it and ate my bulbs. Forgot what types I purchased, but I did get a Darwin breed. What could have happened? Am I jumping the gun b/c they are not up yet? Any advice is much appreciated.

New home

We recently bought a new home in Wisconsin that has a tulip bed in the backyard. We have never grown or cared for tulips before. The bed is covered in old flower stems and other weeds. Should we clean up the bed and remove all of the decaying material? Is it OK to walk on the bed, because we don't know where the actual flowers are located? We also want to put a fence around the bed, and possibly chicken wire above it to prevent squirrels and rabbits from eating them. Please provide advice. Thanks.

Hi Scott,

You can rake up the decaying plants but don’t dig into the soil yet. Wait for the tulips to grow and bloom this spring and then do the major cleanup. You may want to dig the bulbs after the foliage has died back and replant the bulbs. You can put some gravel or chicken wire around the bulbs in the soil to discourage voles and squirrels to dig and eat the bulbs. You may not need to put a fence up. See our page about fall planted bulbs at www.almanac.com/content/growing-guide-fall-planted-bulbs.

replanting bulbs that have bloomed

It has been years since I have tried to replant the bulbs. Am I correct in removing them from the pot to a brown bag for the summer season to replant in the fall? I am in Texas. Thank you for any information you can give me.

Red tulip plant

My oldest son gave me a pot with six bulbs at least when he was visiting from England on the 19th of February,the flowers have died and the leaves are all turning yellow not sure how to tend to the plant ,how and what should I do at this point

bulbs stored in the garage

Tulips are spring-blooming bulbs, Linda. They are meant to be planted in the fall/auturmn, at least before th ground freezes, so they can “pop” in spring. Having kept yours in the garage all winter—not in soil, it sounds like—your options may be limited. Are they still firm, solid, not feeling soft or dried out? You can, quick and in a hurry, plant them and water them and see if they grow. If it was cold enough in the garage, you might “fool” them into blooming. Mark or remember where you plant them…and wait a year. There is a long shot chance that they might bloom next spring. There is not much else to do with them.

Tulips and Daffodils coming up early!

I have inherited two flower beds that mostly have tulips in them, there are some daffodils too. I seen this morning that both are coming up, usually thay come up between mid March and early April. I live in west central Illinois. The weather is cool by day and it frost over at night. Should I cover thim at night or not and hope they will survive?

tulips

Too many leaves.

Last year i had 10 huge beautiful red tulips in my Vancouver condo,after the leaves died I dug them up and stored them in a dark place, I planted the bulbs late in the fall,now I have dozens of leaves coming up all over my small plot,there seems to be no sign of flowers..what shall I do?? Will they ever bloom??

Tulips

I was given some tulip bulbs that were dug up by the City, and were going to be thrown in the dump. I wanted to salvage them for my own yard, but what do I do? I realized tulip bulbs are usually planted in the fall so is there a way to store them until the fall, or can I plant them now and hope for the best? What should I do?

Hi Dianne,

Where these bulbs dug up in the fall or recently? If they were in the ground over the winter months you should be able to plant them now and hopefully have some blooms this spring. If they were dug up earlier you can still plant them but they may not bloom this year.

White tulips turning yellow

I was given some white tulips about 4 days ago and they were nice and green with 2 white flowers. I see another bulb sprouting and a flower appearing in another sprouted bulb but the 2 flowers that were already there are turning yellow. What's going on with them? I just moved them to a bigger pot with fertilizer. Should I leave them or place them back in the original pot? I also placed them outside and I live in south texas. Please help I don't want to kill them.

white Tulips

Probably the PH of the soil in the new Pot you planted them is higher sometimes that affects the colors of the flowers even after blooming I had some that were Pink and my husband dumped coffee close to them and later they turned red wine color ... they survived no worries but they changed color they will go back to the original color if they get non acid soil

I live in south east Texas, I

I live in south east Texas, I want to plant tulips that are in pots and blooming now. The area that I live in is very wet and the bed gets only morning sun. Will this work or should I plant in a large pot?

TULIP BULBS IN POT

I RECEIVED A POT OF BLOOMING TULIPS WITH A NOTE TO PLANT AND WATCH THEM BLOOM AGAIN (LIKE A NEW BEGINNING). The blooms are dead and I'm wondering how to store the bulbs for future planting. I live in Southeast Missouri and I know they need some cold temps now before they can be replanted. Any suggestions?

Place the pot in an unheated

Place the pot in an unheated garage or place it outside covered with a towel or tarp if you still have freezing temps at night. You can also put the bulbs in a paper bag and store them in the refrigerator for a period of time. Depeding on the variety you have the bulbs need 9 to 14 weeks of chilling.

My planter fell an broke but bulbs didnt

Hi my name is mark i live in Sacramento Ca, an i have about 6 tulips an they just started braking out of the soil about 1 inch but the planter fell an broke an the bulbs were on the ground, would i be able to replant them or is the roots done?

bulb in water . . .

We probably would not plant these. It’s already nearly the end of January. The bulb would need a nice rest, including a chill period (think of the normal cycle: plant in fall, it enjoys a chill in winter, then begins to grow in spring. In all likelihood, there is not time in the calendar (in Las Vegas) for it to go through it’s cycle. You could try…if the bulb is not all mushy from the water…but keep your expectations in check. Displays such as yours in water are usually meant for a single performance. In the fall, buy a bag of bulbs to plant and you will have a flower show in spring 2017.

Too Early?

I bought bulbs in Sept/October and kept them in the fridge until last week. I potted the bulbs (a few were sprouting) last week. The plants have already broken the surface with beautiful leaves :). It has been rainy and chilly (New Orleans). Should I try to find a dark place for them or just see what happens? I am assuming from these posts that this may be too early.

Tulips

Where can I buy "already refrigerated" bulbs. I was unable to buy them to refrigerate this year but would like to plant the bulbs for Easter. I live in Texas and have planted tulips for many years. I find early February to be a good time for our fickle weather. Thanks j

bulbs for forcing

We can not recommend any particular vendors, but they exist. Do this: Search on the web (through Google, Bing, or other such web site) for “bulbs for forcing” or a variation such as “nurseries that sell tulip bulbs for forcing.” Several nurseries come up. Click into the web sites and you can contact individual vendors about purchasing the bulbs you want.

Tulips

I received a vase of about a dozen blooming tulips for Christmas. The vase has a divider has little feet that keeps the bulbs out of the water & the roots are growing in the water. I need help! What can I do with the tulips now? Can they be put in a pot(s)? If so, what type of potting soil? When can they be put in the ground? I live in zone 7b (North Carolina). We have had an extensive amount of rain this month & the ground is saturated w/water. HELP!

Christmas tulips

Your tulips may have a second life…or they may not. Fora couple of reasons:

• Tulips are usually spring-blooming bulbs. Yours were probably forced to bloom in order to be available as gifts at this time.

• Tulips need a period of cold weather in order to bloom. If your area tends to have a period of freezing or near-freezing weather, you could plant the bulbs in the ground and see what happens. It’s unlikely these bulbs would rebloom this spring; they need a dormancy period. You might see some foliage and never see a bloom; it’s hard to tell. Remember, the bulbs were “forced” to perform outside of their natural cycle. Getting back on cycle may be difficult.

• Even if you plant the bulbs in a container, they need a period of cold weather. Containers are more risky than inground planting, however, because some containers, even those with holes, hold more rain water than the ground would naturally disperse. Thus the bulbs run the risk of rotting in a container.

• If you want to plant the bulbs in saturated ground, wait until the rain dissipates and the ground dries.

The important thing to remember here is that these tulips were a gift that you enjoyed when they were at their best.

I, too, received tulips in

I, too, received tulips in water and want to know what I can do to keep the spent (but still viable) bulbs. Unfortunately, the posted answer did not address the answer--although it did provide extra helpful info. Do I plant the bulbs in soil in a pot and put them in a cool, dark place (like my PA basement) for 6-8 weeks, or should I just plant them where I want them to (hopefully) bloom next year? Thanks!

Amsterdam tulips

I bought tulip bulbs from Amsterdam in Sept.
Its now Dec 10 in Denver and we are buying a new house, so I've been saving them for new place. Can I still plant them or is it too late? And/or can I save them for next year? And, how should I store them?
Thanks

In Denver, spring-flowering

In Denver, spring-flowering bulbs are usually planted around mid- to late September through October. This gives them enough time to establish roots before winter. Now that it is December, it would be best to store the bulbs in a cool, dark, dry area, such as a garage or dry cellar (make sure the location won’t encounter freezing temperatures – or hungry rodents). Pack healthy bulbs in a cardboard box or paper bag, separating layers with newspaper. Do not let bulbs touch each other. Check for rot periodically and discard diseased bulbs.

We live in Indiana, we just

We live in Indiana, we just planted 200 darwin hybrid tulip bulbs, the instructions said about 2 inches deep, i saw in other places they require hole depth of as much as 8-9"? will we have any problems since they are relatively close to the surface in the mulch beds? they are practically in the mulch, the two inch hole did reach the ground underneath,,

Darwin hybrid tulips usually

Darwin hybrid tulips usually need to be planted at least 6 inches deep. We suspect that your tulips will be lovely next year, but you may want to dig them up and plant deeper after the leaves die in the spring.

timing tulip bloom

There is going to be a wedding at my house on april 23rd. We would like to have as many tulips blooming as possible on that date. I live just south of Sacramento California. I bought the bulbs towards the end of October and immediately put them in the fridge. When should I put them in the ground and pots, as I will be doing both.

Hi Annie! I have been

Hi Annie! I have been thinking about your question since last night and I think you are taking a huge gamble by supplying your own flowers for a wedding. Mother nature is fickle and can't be counted on. I would STRONGLY suggest getting your flowers from a reputable florist in your area or online. I plant tulips here in the fall and they do not bloom until mid May. I am in zone 4. Tulips require a long, cold dormant period. That being said I would search bulb forcing on youtube for tips on this subject. If you want to risk it I would think planting them in your area (zone 9/10) in late Feb. thru mid March would be your target times. As you can see this is a fairly large window of time and anybody telling you exactly when you should plant would be guessing. You could speak with someone knowledgeable on bulbs locally to get a better idea. A local greenhouse would be a great place to start!

Tulips grown in a container

I live in New Jersey and a few weeks ago I planted tulip bulbs in a pot with holes in the bottom for drainage. I didn't water the bulbs and left the pot in my dark garage until temperatures consistently fell under 60 degrees Fahrenheit. It won't do that until next week (after Thanksgiving.) Once I put it on my deck and start watering it, do I need to bring it indoors every time it goes below 32 degrees?

Tulips need a dormant cold

Tulips need a dormant cold period during the winter months. Leave the pot in an unheated garage or shed during winter and put the pot on your deck when temp. start warming up in March, April. No need to bring the pot indoors if the temps. drop below freezing.

Thanks. I am still wondering

Thanks. I am still wondering what to do in the initial planting period, the first 6-8 weeks after the bulbs are planted. I know that tulips planted in the ground are OK when temperatures drop below freezing, but what about tulip bulbs in a pot? Will they still germinate if they are exposed to freezing temperatures? Or should I put the pot in my garage overnight? I am definitely planning on keeping the pot in the garage later this winter.

We recommend that you chill

We recommend that you chill the bulbs for about 8 weeks before planting. If you put the bulbs in the fridge in mid-November they will be ready to plant in mid January and you can expect blooms in mid to late March. You can dig the bulbs after the tops turn yellow or brown. Put the bulbs in a cool, dark, dry place over the summer and early fall months. Then start the process again with the chilling and planting.

Darwin Hybrid Tulip

I currently purchased Darwin Hybrid Tulips from Walmart. The package say that the bulbs are an annual and only bloom once. I saw a past comment saying that Darwin tulips bulbs are a perennial and do well in the South (where I thrive in). Now Im just really confused. Are they an annual or a perennial?

October is a great time to

Will tulips be viable in zone

Will tulips be viable in zone 9 with a cooling period in a refrigerater. Also, what tulip species looks more beautiful for next spring,, 'Color Cardinal', 'Christmas Marvel' or 'Kikomachi, All of which bloom in early spring.

Yes, you do need to put

Yes, you do need to put traditional (Dutch) tulip bulbs in the refrigerator for 6 to 8 weeks (in a paper bag) before planting in zones 8 to 10. But most of the smaller species tulips do not need chilling and can grow in warmer climates. We like Christmas Marvel which blooms in the early spring and fits zone 9. It has a bright cherry pink color which is sure to brighten your garden.

I live in Puerto Rico and

I live in Puerto Rico and just returned from a trip to Chicago. There they had pulled tullip bulbs from the Millenium Park. I picked up a few. I dont know if I should store them in a bag until Novemberand then put them in the fridge several weeks before planting or just plant them now and see what happens.

I have tulip bulbs that

I have tulip bulbs that originated in Holland, but have been growing here in upstate NY. When my mother in law passed, they were dug up and placed in paper bag about five years now. They have been in dark dry place downstairs. Can I still plant these this fall and will they still grow? They were beautiful and very tall.

At this point, you would let

At this point, you would let the tulip's foliage die down from green to yellow. Don't remove the green foliage. Once died back, strip off the foliage and keep the bulbs in the soil. Find a cool location in your house to store the pot.
If these bulbs are the regular "Holland" type, you will need to "chill" them in Texas. For about 6 to 8 weeks before you plant the bulbs, put them in a mesh (not paper) bag in the refrigerator. Do not store apples at this time. So, if you put the bulbs in the fridge in mid-November they would be ready to plant in mid January and you could expect blooms in mid to late March.
Plant the bulbs in a place with morning sun and avoid the hot afternoon sun in Texas. The soil can not be soggy where you plant. Plant the bulbs 6 inches deep. Water them well.

It might be a number of

It might be a number of things. Make sure the soil contains the proper nutrients for your bulbs. Check if the bulbs are planted at the right depth, and that they are in full sun. Make sure that they have good drainage. It is perhaps also possible that the varieties that you have are the late-spring blooming tulips. If so, depending on variety and your climate, it could be that these will bloom in the next few weeks.

I had to dig up a flower bed

I had to dig up a flower bed in May which included several tulip bulbs. What should I do with them? Should I refrigerate them until fall or plant them now in their new location? I live in Western North Carolina.

Hello, I couldn't find a

Hello, I couldn't find a question related to mine. 2 years ago I planted tulip bulbs, apparently from reading above I must have planted to early. I think I might have in spring or summer, I've just learned this year to plant in fall! I was planting for same year not the next!! But, I just get a little green foliage, no bloom. Squirrels dig in my garden no matter what I try it seems! But surprisingly there were still about 8 bulbs, ( only 2 have foliaged) I just dug them up and potted them I thought maybe they just weren't doing well in my bed. But, should I dry them out and fridge rate them and try to plant again in the fall?;

We received a pot with about

We received a pot with about 15 tulips this year...they have since died and we saved the bulbs.......can I put them in the ground now ( mid may) and leave them there to bloom next spring?..I see daffodil spring up in the same place every year would these tulips do the same?
we live on Long Island if that help answer this thread

moving from Connecticut to

moving from Connecticut to Myrtle Beach South Carolina. would like to dig up tulip hyacinth daffodil and iris bulbs for planting at my new home. my plan was to dig each up after they flower and the leaves start to turn Brown however I will not be able to replant them until the end of till August which will be 3 months. therefore should I dig the bulbs up put them in a pot with the soil and then plant them in the fall in South Carolina? Or should I dig them up after they finish blooming dry off the bulbs and keep them refrigerated in brown bag for 3 months?
thank you so much for your assistance Mary Beth

It's probably wise to dig up

It's probably wise to dig up the bulbs and keep them in some "home" soil, Mary Beth, so that they have more proper conditions in which to go dormant. The planting schedule is a bit later than you propose; August may be too early. See the Clemson University site for more on all of the bulbs you mention and more, with specfics on South Carolina: http://www.clemson.edu/extensi...

So i was preparing flower

So i was preparing flower pots and found an odd plant in the old pots, I dug all bulbs up before realizing they were tulips. Some were a little beat up some were still good shape. I replanted them and left a second pot holding bulbs to grow. there seems to be 15 bulbs in each pot. Any tips on caring for them and replanting the old bulbs? I live in Wasilla Alaska and have no flower smarts. (including tulips)

Tulips are very forgiving.

Tulips are very forgiving. What you need to remember though is in the spring, after they bloom, do not cut back the leaves. Let them turn yellow and die. Then you can dig up the bulbs and put them where you want them to grow next year.

Our landscaping company at

Our landscaping company at work, dug up all the old tulip bulbs and we were able to take as many home as we like. The stems are still attached to the bulbs. How do I care for them and when should plant them? I live in St. Louis. Thanks

My neighbors dug up most of

My neighbors dug up most of their tulips, daffodils and irises last month and set them aside in a bucket. They have been rained on and the water didn't drain so now the roots and greenery have rotted, however the bulbs and tubulars look clean and are still firm. Can these be dried out and either replanted or stored for next year, or are they a complete loss? I hate to see any plant thrown away and I'm willing to try to salvage them if they can be saved.

Hi, Indigo,
We can't say for

Hi, Indigo,
We can't say for certain but there may be a good chance that the bulbs and tubers will survive if dried out. Go through the motions, including replanting, and see what happens next spring. That's the only way to know ...
Best—

I am resident of India on

I am resident of India on West coast. I would like to learn and study short time courses on commercial production and cultivation of Tulips in India and also explore the possibilities of technical support I can get for production and sale of flowers in Europe, USA etc. can you suggest something. Thanx.

Hello,
I don't know how fast

Hello,
I don't know how fast can you help me in this.
I live in Amman-Jordan. My friend got me two tulip bulbs. And I am wondering if I can plant them now, spring is almost over here (there's no actual spring in Jordan) and the temperature is rising fast. Is it safe to plant them now? Otherwise what should I do?
I hope you can help me fast, I'm clueless. They are in a plastic bag and I don't know for how long have they been there and in what environment.
Thank you in advance for all the help you can offer
Rana

Were the bulbs from a local

Were the bulbs from a local retailer? Depending on the variety, some might do better than others. You might ask a garden center in your area for best advice. As far as I know, tulips require a period of cold to form roots and flower. I'm not sure if your climate gets cool enough in the winter to provide this requirement. However, you can instead place the bulbs in the refrigerator for several weeks before planting. Some storebought bulbs may have already had the prechilling treatment done and are set to plant (you might check the package, if they came in one).

If you'd rather not have a bulb in the refrigerator for weeks or months, you might just want to plant them and see what happens. Or, you might try forcing them for indoor bloom (provide artificial conditions that trigger them to bloom early). For more information, see:

If you want to further research tulips and which climates they can grow in, here is a handy site the tells one the average temperatures in Amman for each month, as well as length of daylight, average precipitation, etc.:

Perhaps they were planted too

Perhaps they were planted too deep, or planted upside down? Make sure that they have enough sunlight and soil nutrients and leave the foliage on the plants to brown and die naturally at the end of their growing season, so that the bulbs will have enough energy next year. Check for damage to the bulbs, which can sometimes happen during transplanting or via animals. Sometimes, if they were just planted, it will take them another year to establish, and may develop more leaves that following year. Hope this helps!

I gave a friend a vase of

I gave a friend a vase of Tulips that I bought at a local store, but they were in water with their roots instead of soil. She lost her husband, and the flowers were so beautiful that she will like them to bloom again every year about the time of her lost. Should the bulbs be dried first? If so how? then I assume is the same procedure explained before, storage in a bag, then put in the fridge til next fall to be plant? Please let me know. We live in Miami, Fl. Thank you in advance for your help.

It sounds as if these tulip

It sounds as if these tulip blooms were "forced" in water. We do not generally plant forced bulbs; we buy new bulbs, however you can keep it watered and wait until the leaves wither and yellow. Then cut off everything, dry off the bulb, and store in a paper bag. Since you live in a warm climate, you should place the bag in the fridge for 12 to 15 weeks as these bulbs need proper "chill' time.
Plant in the ground in late fall. You won't be able to "force" again since their first year's growth was "forced" and they will probably need several years recuperation in the garden before they bloom again.
Since she lives in Florida, it may be best to simply force new bulbs each year in remembrance!

I live in Scotland. A couple

I live in Scotland. A couple of days ago I bought potted tulips at a garden centre. I brought them home, put them in another pot and they have all fallen over. What is the cause of this and is there anything I can do?

can you leave bulb of tulips

Most tulips bloom in the

Most tulips bloom in the spring. These bulbs are cold-hardy and they can be left in the ground year-round. If you have summer-blooming bulbs, they you can leave them the ground if you live in a warm climate but you need to dig them up if you live in a cold climate.

I just got a purple and red

I just got a purple and red tulips as a plant and am wondering how to care for them. They are already have bloomed and the soil is still a bit damp. Please reply asap. I don't want them to die as they are so pretty. Thanks for your quick response.

Tulips have one flower per

Tulips have one flower per bulb. When the flower is done blooming, you can "deadhead" the bloom but don't cut the leaves. Continue to water the plant and keep the soil moist--and let the leaves die back naturally. The tulips will return next spring! Every few years, you need to dig up the bulbs and divide. See above for more information.

Several years ago, I planted

Several years ago, I planted tulip bulbs with no results. Once again, I planted tulip bulbs in the fall. Once again, I've not gotten any flowers. I do have one bulb that has sprouted foliage. I live in Zone 6 in southern West Virginia. I am so frustrated and wondering what I am doing wrong.

As the staff stated, most

As the staff stated, most likely your tulip bulbs were eaten by chipmunks. My new technique to combat the chipmunks is to spray the bulbs with RoPel (or another brand of rodent repellent) before planting. It appears to have worked wonderfully with the bulbs that I planted last fall & winter. The other possibility is that the spot where you planted your bulbs was water-logged over the winter and the bulbs rotted. Tulip bulbs must have adequate drainage to avoid rot. I have had good results digging the bed down to about 15 inches deep where I intend to plant tulips, and filling it halfway up with a mixture of sand, compost and ordinary soil before planting the bulbs.

Hello,
I purchased some

Hello,
I purchased some tulips that were in a "water" vase. Now the leaves are starting to brown, however there are new sprouts from the bulbs. I live in Florida so we do not have your typical "winter". What should I do with them next?

Hello...I do not know how

Hello...I do not know how often you responds to these emails...I really need some advice. My brother built me an above ground planting area. In Nov. I planted about 200 bulbs: Iris Crocus, Daffodil, Tulips, and Hyacinths. I live in Joshua Tree Ca and we have had some days in the 90's already, and now it's back to the 70's. I had 3 daffodils and 2 tulips bloom, but they looked pretty sickly. I have some tulips that stated blooming, and just had yellow, brownish leaves.

My main question is SPECIFICALLY when to water the bulbs and flowers? It is possible I have over watered or under watered at one time or another. I use a water meter that says the soil is moist, but when I put a spade into the soil, it comes out dry.

I have searched and searched for details on watering flower bulbs and flowers. I really am discouraged, and at a loss! Can you help??

Hi Char,
Most bulbs need

Most bulbs need well-drained soil. Bulbs don't like standing water, especially during the spring thaw. Be careful not to overwater your flowers.
Most bulbs also need full sun, at least 5 to 6 hours of direct sun daily. For best flowering, 8 to 10 hours of sun is recommended.
Spring bulbs need cold freezing temperatures during the winter to bloom.

I was just given a Easter

I was just given a Easter gift of Tulips that are just starting to bloom. they are in a glass vase with no dirt and water just at the bottom of the roots. Do I leave them like this until fall? If not how do I store them or when do I plant them.

After the flowers fade you

After the flowers fade you can plant the bulbs in a pot or in the garden if you like. If you live in a warm climate you can remove the bulbs from the pot/garden after the leaves turn brown and put them in a paper bag and place in the refrigerator for 6-8 weeks before planting them in soil again.

I purchased potted tulips and

I purchased potted tulips and they look beautiful. They are starting to fall apart although I have watered them. I would like to plant them outside. I live in NJ. Can I plant them outside now? It's April.

I live in Garden Grve Ca and

I live in Garden Grve Ca and I bought tulips in Iowa. They told us to plant them any time after late Dec. when it is 60 degrees or cooler. It has not been cool enough to plant and they are in my refrigerator. Is it too late to plant now? If so how do I store them??

Help!!

They will not likely last

They will not likely last until next fall in your refrigerator unless they are well protected from dessication. Better to plant them now and see what they do rather than store them for many more months and then have to throw them out. They have had enough of a "cold period" in your refrigerator already -- actually much more than needed. So they may still bloom when planted in soil.

Couldn't find a question

Couldn't find a question related to mine, so I have to ask for your valuable advice.
I live in Italy, CENTRAL APPENINE. Planted more than a 100 tulip bulbs from Holland in 2013. Everything is going fine except that they changed color last year.
In this Spring's growth I can see that the bulbs have multiplied and I don't know whether to leave them like that or if it is perentory to divide them.
Thank you very much!

The bulbs you now have in the

The bulbs you now have in the ground are the children of the bulbs you planted the year earlier. They may have cross polinated with others tulips when they were in flower last year and the color is changinng to the dominate color in the new bulbs. In my garden my bulbs have mostly changed to red. I don't know is red is always the dominate color but in my garden that seems to be the case.

Hello, I live in California

Hello, I live in California (Antelope Valley ) and my mom and I bought some tulips from Wal-Mart, they had already bloomed, I planted them in the front yard, it's only been a day and some of them are becoming limp and their petals are drying out. Could it be too much watering or the hot sun? What should I do?

Hi, Zoey, It's normal for

Hi, Zoey, It's normal for plants to wilt a bit, or rest, when transplanted; being uprooted and moved, they have gone through a shock of sorts and have to become adjusted to their new environment. Given that they were probably "forced" for bloom for sale (that's common, too), the sun and water and new surroundings were all too much.
If you expected to buy blooms and move them from a pot into the ground and have them stand up as they did in the pot—that's just not going to happen for almost any plant.
Ideally, you should enjoy the bulbs in the pot, allow them to die back, and then plant the blubs in the fall. If you have a cold winter (tulips need a cold period), they stand a pretty good chance of blooming in the ground the following spring.
Right now, there is nothing you can do. Just leave the bulbs in the ground. Maybe you can buy another pot and try again...?

Hello
I planted tulips in a

Hello
I planted tulips in a pot and put it in my celler for 9 weeks, and now they are starting to grow, some of them are little some of them are tall. What should i do now? i brought them to my apartment. Is that the correct time? and also i do not know how should i water them.
Please advice me.
Thank you
NOmin

I was given 3 pots of tupips

I was given 3 pots of tupips in full bloom in January. Do I keep them watered (inside) to keep them in bloom? After they loose their bloom do I take the bulbs out of the pots and place in cool basement until I can plant in the Fall? I live in the state of Kentucky.

Hi Brenda,
Yes, keep the pots

Hi Brenda,
Yes, keep the pots indoors and water if soil is dry. After they are done blooming let the leaves turn yellow before taking the bulbs out of the pots and storing in a cool dark place until fall.

I live in Northern Ohio and

I live in Northern Ohio and have planted 600 tulip bulbs this last week. If I were to dig them up after the proper fading and yellowing of the leaves next spring how should I store them? I don't have a basement. My garage is not attached and 90 degrees plus may happen 5 times each summer. Is storage inside my 75 degree air conditioned house adequate? Thanks in advance.

Hi Jim,
Why don't you just

Hi Jim,
Why don't you just leave the bulbs in the ground after they bloom? If you do dig up the bulbs they should be stored somewhere cool and airy. It is important air can circulate around the bulb until planting next autumn. 75 degrees is a little bit too warm for storage.

So, I'm from Brazil and it's

So, I'm from Brazil and it's summer now. I traveled to the Netherlands in late September and bought some bulbs. Since I didn't know what to do, I left the bulbs on a pot since middle October (spring), when the roots started growing (4"). Then I planted them 15cm. (all in the fridge). Now I can see them out of the ground (3") but I don't know what to do, if they will die if I leave them outside the fridge (there's no way to keep them there anymore) because it's summer now (not like Germanys summer). Also, I found a white fungus on one of them. What should I do?? Do they will die?? Help me pleeaaase!!!

Hi!
I live in New Delhi-

Hi!
I live in New Delhi- India, with summer temperature up to 47*c (117F) and Lowest winter up to 4*C (40F). Can I grow tulip in container and how the bulbs could be stored during summer?
Is it required to chill the bulbs before planting?

Hey..Im based in Mumbai. Mild

Hey..Im based in Mumbai. Mild winters, hot summers, lotsa rain...Probably the worst weather for tulips. I planned to plant tulips in Aug last year. Got some purple Triumph and Black Parrot bulbs frm Amsterdam..and refrigerated them till Dec. Then planted them in Christmas in a quick draining bed. Rgt now have the black parrots blooming. So to answer ur question, yes it shld be def possible to plant them in Delhi's dryer and cooler weather.

I live in New Jersey, about

I live in New Jersey, about an hour outside New York.
Last year I bought a bunch of tulip bulbs and got all of three blooms... they were a sight for sore eyes.

When the leaves withered in June, I replanted them in a pot and stored in my garage.
Now it will be October, there is no sign of life above the soil, so I don't know their condition.
What should I do now?

You can leave them in the pot

You can leave them in the pot and keep them in a cold shed or garage. The bulbs need the freezing temps during the winter months to produce flowers in the spring. Or, you can plant the bulbs in your garden. Discard any bulbs that are mushy or soft.

We are in Australia and put

We are in Australia and put them in the fridge in paper bags until about 6 weeks before we want them to flower (we take them out of the fridge 6 weeks before the first week of Spring and then they flower every time). Putting them in the fridge mimics their native cold winter environment. If you store them in the fridge, do not put any onions in the fridge with them because they will stop the bulbs from flowering.

Yes, bulbs are usually

Yes, bulbs are usually planted in late fall in the Phoenix area. Prepare the soil in October and plant tulip bulbs middle of November. Remember: in your area, you need to chill the bulbs in the refrigerator for six to eight weeks ahead of time; store in a paper sack.

I live in Houston, Texas, and

I live in Houston, Texas, and have recently acquired 100 tulip bulbs from Amsterdam. It is August here and still very hot. What do I need to do with my tulips until planting time? when is planting time? From what I am reading, I can place them in the refrigerator to chill them until December and then plant. Is this your advice?

Keep them in a brown paper

Keep them in a brown paper bag in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator. Don't store them with any fruit because fruit can release gas that will harm the bulbs. Plant the bulbs after Thanksgiving but before Christmas.

For those of us in the South,

For those of us in the South, or in an RV, look for a bulb company that will pre-chill your bulbs for you for a fee. it is my understanding that if you put them in a refrigerator with ripening fruit, the gases given off by the fruit damage/kill the bulbs. has anyone else heard of this? Also, does anyone from the South have a purple tulip variety that does well for them with pre-chilling? my supplier tells me purple does not do well here.

In the South, Darwin Tulips

In the South, Darwin Tulips do well, blooming in late March and early April. There is a deep violet variety, 'The Bishop.' As you said, tulips in the south require pre-chilling (for 45 to 60 days prior to planting). Plant right after you remove from cold storage in December or early January.

Hey there Aliza! I read your

Hey there Aliza! I read your comment about tulips in an RV. We are getting ready to full time In ours with a base camp in north Carolina and Florida. I grow my own herbs. I really can't imagine not being able to cook without fresh herbs. Have you been Successful at growing herbs or any other edibles in your rv? My husband is stongly suggesting the aero garden for herbs, lettuce and tomato......

I went to the tulip festival

I went to the tulip festival in Holland, I bought purple tulips at the stand it didn't look like they had bloomed yet. I brought them back to England and planted them in a pot with potting soil along with the sand they came in. And they looked like they were budding to bloom and they haven't and know they look like they are dying what am I doing wrong?

You may not be doing anything

You may not be doing anything wrong. Some flower varieties are finicky. I had an Amaryllis bulb that did the same thing. It took two years to bloom...but when it did, it was beautiful, and came back each year. Nature is smart. If there is something wrong with a blossom, it may not bloom. Just be patient. Check your bulbs, throw away any mushy ones, make sure you've left enough space for them to grow. You could also try poking a few holes in the outside of the pot to promote more circulation. Make sure that when watering, the soil should be damp, not wet.

I moved into my 1st home and

I moved into my 1st home and live in Illinois. So I know nothing about landscaping. Their are two tulip plants in front of the home. They get plenty of sunshine. They bloom into these beautiful flowers but don't last long at all. Like a month. Then the petals fall and the leaves start turning yellow. Are tulips longevity only a month? Do they re-bloom? I did notice a slug in the dirt when I was cleaning out the weeds.

Slugs can be good for

Slugs can be good for gardens. The mucus they leave behind carries nutrients that help certain plants. If you're worried about it, you could try mixing in just a bit of table salt with the soil. But if you use too much, it could kill your plants.

Hello. I live in Ontario

Hello. I live in Ontario Canada. Each year I plant tulips, as the chipmunks get the bulbs after a year. I learned to live with that, but this year I have a new and very aggravating problem. The ones I planted all came up, but something is eating the actual flowers! Each day it seems there are less. The flower stock looks like it has been hit with a weed wacker. Any idea what would do this and how to stop it?

I would guess your tulips are

I would guess your tulips are being eaten by deer during the night. I live in northern Wisconsin, in a rural area, and deer just LOVE tulips! It can help to spray them with an egg & water solution (3 eggs, beaten to 1 gallon water) However it must be reapplied after a rain, and if it rains during the night, bye-bye tulips for this year. They'll come back next year,so do deer!

Thanks so much. That is

Thanks so much. That is possible. We live in a rural area with lots of woods around. We seldom see deer, but every once in a while we spot one while driving at night so I know they are around. Must be coming out and munching at night. They seem to far prefer the red ones to the pink. Next year I will plant only pink and give your egg spray a try.

I've seen this before. If

I've seen this before. If there is wildlife around your area, they may be taking a liking to the flowers. Deer especially love bright flowers. I've found that spritzing the petals and stalks with cinnamon water helps. They don't like the taste, and will stay away. It isn't harmful to the plants, scabs can promote pollination. Try a mixture of 4 tablespoons cinnamon, and two or three cups water. Or, you can sprinkle dry cinnamon directly on the blossoms. The water helps it stick, though.

I just wanted to say Thank

I just wanted to say Thank You for all your posts. I recently adopted a flower bed at a park and the person last year had tulips in the bed. I went to pull the weeds this weekend and had no clue what to do with all the tulip leaves that had no flower on them. So I left them but now I know what to do. This is a great web site.

I may have missed the

I may have missed the question, so I'm sorry for the repetition if so...
I live in southern Maine and I LOVE tulips, but would hate to plant them every year... Do you think could I treat them as a normal perennial and not dig them up?
Thanks!

Yes. You have the absolutely

Yes. You have the absolutely most perfect climate for tulips, so the only reason why they would not come back year after year would be pests: chipmunks, squirrels, or voles/mice. I dust mine with scented foot powder like you get at the grocery store before planting; sometimes also cayenne pepper. Be on the lookout for evidence of tunnels by which the chipmunks / moles/ voles might try to access the bulbs, which they perceive of as candy.

Some people plant vinca minor, pachysandra or other tough ground covers atop the bed after planting tulip bulbs. I don't have any vinca but I have noticed that once the pachysandra grows in over the tulips bulbs, the bulbs are pretty safe.

Thank you so much!

Can I replant tulip bulbs

Can I replant tulip bulbs that have little orange spots on them? Of all the ones I planted, 3/4th of them have these spots. They were new when I planted last fall and bloomed beautifully. Would love some advise before adding bulb dust and storing them.
Thanks
judy
Portland, Oregon